Shoe-upper-holding device for lasts



July 2, 1929. J. SHLIEKR SHOE UPPER HOLDING DEVICE FOR LASTS Original Filed Oct. 16,, 1924 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SHLIEKR, OF I-IAVERHILL, MASSACHTJZS ETTS, riSSIGhlOR T UNITED $110153 MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHOE-UPPER-I-IOLDING DEVICE FOR LASTS.

Application filed October 16, 1924, Serial No. 743,961. Renewed February 18, 1927.

In the manufacture of low, or oxford shoes, when the upper is placed on the last, previous to the lasting operation, it is first correctly positioned on the back end of the last, so that its back seam will be exactly in the middle of the back of the last andits top edge will be at the correct distance from the top of the last. When this has beendone,

it is customary to secure the upper in this position by driving a single tack through the upper, in the middle of or neariits back seam, into the last. The upper is then drawn forwardly and towards the bottom of the last, and the shoe is pulled over and lasted in the usual manner. i

The. use of tacks for temporarily scour the enlargement of the tack hole due to the.

yielding of the leather or the thread of the back seam.

. Moreover, it is desirable to shape the up per to the last about its rear end, so that when the shoe is finally lasted the top portion of the upper will be drawn as closely as possible to the last. It often happens,

however, that the shoe is too loosely lasted at this point, on account of the -fact that the workman. has to draw the upper to the last, largely by pulling from the edge portion and this shaping at the back is frequently resisted by the resiliency of the counter in the upper, which frequently is not molded to fit the last perfectly. The

single tack is of small assistance in properly last. Fmrther difiicnlties also arise through the incorrect positioning of the upper with relation to the top of the last, and, while the pattern is (lcsigned to have the edge of the upper, at the back, at a certain distance from the top side of the last, it frequently happens that it is not correctly positioned at this point. i Y

The principal objects of my invention are r shaping the upper to the rear end of the to avoid the disadvantages inherent inthe use of the securing tacks above. referred to,

and to provide an ordinary wooden last with means for accurately locatmg the rear end i of alow shoe upper in its intended position,

and for securely holding it in this position until thelasting operation has been finished,

which at the same time will preferably also positively shape the upper about the rear end of the lastand hold it inclose contact therewith for asubstantial distance. at each side of the middle of its rearcnd,

I accomplish these objects by providing a i holding and measuring clip which is adapt ed tobe connected to the rear end of the last ina predetermined position and to over lap the upper rear end edge portion of the upper at its middle and to clamp the same firmly to the last.

For a more complete description of my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawingin which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a last having an upper holding clip, embodying my invention.

, Fig. 2 is a back end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view at line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 isua top plan view ofthe last with the holding clip inposition. r

Fig. 5 is a similar view with the holding clip removed.

.Fign6 is a perspective view of the clip.

According to my invention I provide a metal clip 10 of U-shaped form correspond ing approximately to the horizontal contour ofthe upper part of the rear end of the last on which it is to be used, the material of which the clip is made being stiff or adapted to yield but slightly. @A post 11 is rigidly mounted on the concave side of the clip at approximately the middle er the middle line thereof, and is extended midway between the sides of the clip generally at right angles to its surface. The clip is. also provided with a spring finger 12 at one end, which also extondsfrom the upper edge of the middle of the clip inapproximate parallelism, with the post 11 and an indicating notch 13 is formed in the clip at the middle ofvits opposite edge.

The last 14 is provided with a hushed hole, or recess 15,.which extends from the middle of the backthercof and parallel to theupper surface of its heel part, saidhole being arfie "-on the lastin the usual manner and the clip '10 is then,"orqpreviously,placed in position lion the last, by-;inserting the post 11 part way in the hole 15, as in. the dotted line position of Fig. 3, in which position the finger =12wi11 extend over-"theplate' 16 on top'of 1 thelast "with its tooth 18 in engagement 20- therewith; The upper is then positioned on thebaekof 'the last, sothat its back seam 21 is exactly in line wilsh the middle of the notch 13 a'nd' the upper edge of; the upper at the; top of this seamengages the post 11, 25 ilI]. avhich 1 position the upper will be held '=-at thedesired distance-from the top of the last, leaving the intended amount for lasting eiitendi-ngbeyond the last bottom. The up- 'peris then dr'awn-plosely about the'back end, at each side, towards the toe', and, while thus held in position, the clip is struck a *sharp blow with a hammer, or'is forced against the last in any otherconvenient man- -ner; causing the U-shaped portion of the clip, which extends ==over the upper, to be firmly engaged with the upper, so as to clamp it against 'the surface of the last'at each side for a-substantialdistancefrom the middle 7 of the back, thereby causing theupper and 40' P the:stiflfener, or counter, which is located in this a portion of the upper, to: be conformed elosely to the last at this point and securely held in this position. When the clip is forced against the upper, the spring finger *12 will be fOI'CQd'iBlOIIg' the plate 16 -'a corre- --spon'dingly increased distance and its tooth "18 'willbe caught by one of the'teeth 17, {depending on 'the thicknessof the upper, locking the clip in the-position to-which it wasforced, as' shown-in Fig. 3. The fric f tional; engagement of the post ll with the 'si'des'gof thehole 15 may*be made sufficient -*-to'h old the clip in place without employing I tlae' fiIigen 12, the use of which:is,however,

preferable. -The gupper will thus'be firmly i fieldin position at the'baclewhile the lasting joperation is "-co1npleted and, when this has been finishe'd, the-clip will be removed, to do=which itismerely necessary to pry up -=the' finger 112, so .as to disengage the locking teeth, -after which the clip may be readily I "removed. f -With th'e abovew described device the upper za nay lje 'quickly'an'd correctly adjusted to the position'intendeden;the last and' ca-used to V to the upper. .atsmall expense and used indefinitely, and upon lasts of considerably varying styles and conform closely thereto and be securely held in this position while the lasting operation is being finished, without danger of damage The device may also be made sizes, the variations in lasts at the points on- .gaged by the clip being slight.

I claim 1. In combination with a last, a U-shapcd clip adapted to be fitted about the rear end of the last and to clamp the top rear edge portion of a shoe upper at each side of the middle'thereof against the corresponding portions of the last, and means on said clip arranged to be engaged with the last to locate the clip in predetermined relation thereto and to secure the clip in clamping position.

2. In combination with a last having a recess extending longitudinally thereof from the middle of its rear end and adjacent to the upper surface thereof, a U-shaped clip having its inner side shaped to fit about the back end of the last for' substantial distancesat each side of its middle line and for a substantial distance from said recess to- "ward the last bottom, to provide an upper clamping portion, and a post mounted on said clip at its inner side and arranged to be closely fitted in said recess when the clip is in clamping position.

3."In combination with a last-adapted to receive a shoe upper in a predetermined position thereon and having a recess in the middle of 'itsrear end at the upper edge of the shoe upper when in said position, a U-shaped clip having its inner side shaped to fit about the rear end ofthe shoe upper adjacent its upper edge, to clamp the same about the end of the last when in position thereon, a post mounted in said clip and arranged to extendinto said recess to hold the clip in clamping position and provide a gage for the edge of the upper and means for securreceive a shoe upper in a predetermined position thereon and having a recess in the 'm ddle of its rear. end at'the upper edge of the shoe upper when in said position, a U- shaped clip having its inner side shaped to fitabout'theiback end of the shoe upper adjacent 'its' upper edge, to clamp the same about the endof the last when in position thereon, a post mounted in said clip and arranged to extend into said recess to hold the; clip in clamping position, and a finger on said clip arranged tobe yieldably engaged with the top side of the last to lock the clip thereto when in said clamping position.

5. A shoe upper clamping member shaped to embrace the upper rear end of-a shoe last and having anarm arranged to enterla hole in the rear end of the last, and means for holding the clamping member in position on the last.

6. A shoe upper clamping member arranged to be carried by a shoe last as a part thereof, shaped to embrace the upper rear end of the last and having means for ad justably attaching it to the last.

7. A shoe last having a clip attached to the upper portion of its rear end arranged to extend downwardly over the upper of a shoe on the last to clamp the upper rear edge of the upper to the last.

8. A shoe last having an adjustable clip attached to the upper portion of its rear end arranged to extend downwardly over the upper of a shoe on the last to clamp the upper rear edge of the upper to the last, and means for holding the clip in different positions corresponding to shoe uppers of varying thickness in order to exert suitable pressure on the shoe uppers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH SHLIEKR. 

